Gravel cleaner



Oct. 7 1924.

J. KLEPACH GRAVEL' CLEANER Filed Dec. 7,

JOHN KLEPACH, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

GRAVEL CLEANER.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KLnrAoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravel Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the preparation of sand and gravel for use in building operations, more particularly the making of concrete, the object of the invention being to rid such sandor gravel of refuse matter such as would render it unfit for use for the purposes indicated.

It is to be understood that the best plas' ter sand is generally taken from river beds, and the same would be true of gravel, if it were not for the common mixing in its natural condition of the gravel with much refuse StL1ff-I11L1Cl,' leaves, sticks and general dbris, waterlogged, and so commingled with the gravel as to be unsiftable therefrom. This invention provides simple apparatus by means of which the gravel is cleansed as it is excavated, and at practically no expense.

The invention is fully set forth in the description and claims following, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a simple embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the separator, looking toward the upper end.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes the discharge end of a delivery pipe or trough through which the material is forced by a sand-pump (not shown), taking the same from a river bed or pit. The solid matter, with a large admixture of water, forms a semi-fluid mass, which flows somewhat freely at a practical level. The invention takes advantage of this characteristic, in the following manner.

On suitable supports 6 is mounted, by its bearings 7, a rotary sluice-box 8, the farther end of which extends underthe dissluice-box is composed of a large, square axle portion 9, provided with end gudgeons 7, 1922. Serial No. 605,497.

10 as bearings. The axle is most conveniently formed of wood, the bearings being enclosed in steel rings 11. To this axle are attached radial wingslQ, provided, at the outer sides wvith side-boards 13 standing at right angles to the the wings. End-boards 14; retain the material at the receiving end, as shown. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that a considerable portion of each sluice-box is bottomed on the axle, and the 7 box, past the gravel, whether in the box or dumped, and is thus so effectually separated from the gravel that the latter, well cleansed, may be shoveled up for constructional use.

I clalmz l. Gravel-cleanlng apparatus, comprising,

in combination with means for producing a flow of gravel and water, a sluice-box elongated in the direction of said flow, and pivoted to tip laterally, and partly below the bottom of the box, whereby the box may accumulate a load, but dump by gravity, the refuse being carried over the end of the box and past the cleansed gravel.

2. Gravel-cleaning apparatus, comprising, with means. for producing a flow of gravel and water, a rotary sluice-box comprising a central axle and lateral gravel-holding wings, partly projecting inside the center of gravity, whereby the deposited gravel, cleaned by the endwise flow of water, is antomatically dumped back of the flow of refuse by the partial rotation of the sluicebo'so when the weight of the load falls outside the center of gravity.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JOHN KLEPACH.

Witnesses:

H. WALTER TAYLOR, Ennnsr MELBERG. 

